(This note is not part of the Order)
This Order is the first Commencement Order made under the Welfare Reform Act 2012 (“the Act”). It brings into force sections 47, 51 to 53, 58(1) and (2), 113 to 115, 128 to 133(1) to (4), 143, 144 and 146 of, and Part 14 of Schedule 14 to, the Act.
Section 47 of the Act (procedure for regulation-making powers) amends section 37(1)(c) of the Jobseekers Act 1995 so that regulations under sections 6 and 7 of that Act are subject to the negative resolution procedure. This Order brings section 47 into force on the day after the day on which this Order is made.
Section 51 of the Act (period of entitlement to contributory allowance) is brought into force on the day after the day on which the Order is made for the purpose only of making regulations under subsection (4) of that section and on 1st May 2012 for all other purposes. Section 51(4) inserts a new sub-paragraph (2)(f) into paragraph 7 of Schedule 4 to the Welfare Reform Act 2007 (“the 2007 Act”) which enables regulations to modify the application of new section 1A of the 2007 Act (duration of contributory allowance), as inserted by section 51(1) of the Act, in respect of certain persons.
Sections 52 (further entitlement after time-limiting) and 53 (condition relating to youth) of the Act complement section 51 and are brought into force on 1st May 2012.
Section 58(1) and (2) of the Act (entitlement of lone parents to income support) is brought into force on the day after the day on which this Order is made.
Sections 113 to 115 of the Act, which primarily amend provisions in the Social Security Administration Act 1992 which relate to penalties to be imposed as an alternative to prosecution, are brought into force on 8th May 2012.
Sections 128 (information-sharing between the Secretary of State and the DPP) and 129 (unlawful disclosure of information supplied under section 128) of the Act are brought into force on the day after the day on which this Order is made.
Sections 130 (information-sharing in relation to provision of overnight care etc) and 131 (information-sharing in relation to welfare services etc) of the Act are brought into force on the day after the day on which this Order is made for the purpose only of exercising any power to make regulations. Subsection (8) of section 132 of the Act (unlawful disclosure of information supplied under section 131), which refers to one of the regulation-making powers in section 131, is also brought into force on the same day. Sections 130 to 132 of the Act are brought into force for all other purposes on 8th May 2012.
Section 133(1) to (4) of the Act (section 130 to 132: supplementary) is brought into force on the day after the day on which this Order is made.
Sections 143 (standards of decision-making), 144 (use of jobcentres by sex industry) and 146 (UK child poverty strategies) of the Act, and Part 14 of Schedule 14 to the Act (repeals: standards of decision-making) are brought into force on 8th May 2012.
A full impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no impact on the private sector or civil society organisations.